Many sexually active Irish adults are ignoring the risks of unprotected sex according to a new survey carried ou...

Many sexually active Irish adults are ignoring the risks of unprotected sex according to a new survey carried out to mark World Aids Day.

The new figures, compiled by the condom manufacturer Durex, highlight that almost one in three Irish adults who have engaged in unprotected sex admit that they did not think about the risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection.

The survey also found that many people have been engaging in risky behaviour since the very first time they had sex.

Half of all the men and women surveyed admitted that they did not use any type of protection, such as a condom, when they lost their virginity.

The Irish Health website also reports that around one in 10 admitted that they had lost their virginity to someone they had not been seeing for very long.

The survey was carried out in 36 countries worldwide with 29,000 respondents, including more than 500 in Ireland. The results highlight that while almost one in three did not think about the risk of contracting an STI when having unprotected sex, one in four felt it was a mistake and regretted their action.

Those questioned admitted that they took the risk in the belief that the person they were having sex with was STI-free even though one in five of those in a relationship admitted that they did not even know if their partner had ever had an STI.

Irish men now claim to have had an average of 17 sexual partners, the same as men in the UK but less than men in the US (20) or Italy (25).

Irish women claim to have had an average of eight sexual partners, fewer than UK and US women who both claim 10 partners.

The survey also found that nine per cent of men and five per cent of women in relationship are also currently having sex with other partners.